Sweet With a Side of 'Sauer'

It's an interesting description -- sweet tooth -- when the flavors we prefer have nothing to do with our teeth at all. (Perhaps a commentary on the condition of our teeth from eating too many sweets and improper brushing?) I still remember the lesson about the five senses and taste from the
fifth grade. My
teacher drew an oval on the blackboard then sectioned off pieces,
almost like a Venn diagram. Sweet at the front, sour on the sides,
and bitter in the back. As a practical portion of the lesson, we tasted
different foods -- sweet, sour, bitter -- to see how our tongue reacted
to the different tastes. No surprise I favored the sweet foods. I love all kinds of fruits and sweet vegetables, like zucchini, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes. And chocolate? Oh, chocolate! Suffice it to say, if it's sweet, that food has found its way to my plate at one time or another. I don't care for sour or bitter flavors, and don't drink beer or coffee because I don't like the way they taste. Yup, for me, it's all about the sweet.

But I have a secret. An exception to the rule.

I love sauerkraut.

And have since I was 2 years old.

The story goes that I was having supper at a neighbor's house. Hot dogs and sauerkraut. I had pointed to the bowl of sauerkraut, indicating I wanted some. My friend's father was dubious, but put a small portion on my plate anyway. I gobbled it up and asked for more, much to everyone's surprise. Later that evening my friend's father commented to my own, "I've never seen a kid that young eat sauerkraut!" My dad replied, "I don't know why, but she loves it."

And love it I do! One of my favorite ways to have it is on top of pork chops that my mom bakes in the oven. The sauerkraut on the edges of the pan become crispy. Growing up, my sister and I would fight over who would get those crispy, flavorful bits. We'd also eat it with pork loin, bratwurst, and, of course, hot dogs.

Unfortunately, I don't make sauerkraut now as often as I would like. I learned early in my marriage that my husband is not a big fan of it, so over the years I've made it less and less.

But last night I made it anyway, in the slow cooker with bratwurst, potatoes, carrots and peppers. It was heaven. And surprising, too, because my 3-year-old son gobbled it up. He poked around his bowl, moving the bratwurst to the side. But he devoured the sauerkraut, slurping up the long strands like they were spaghetti.

Since I started preparing table food for my son, he has demonstrated his palate prefers sweet flavors, just like his mother. But last night, he revealed he has a secret, too.

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